Abstract
Session H presented Friday, September 28, 2:30-3:30 pm
Purpose: Provide education to emergency department staff to increase awareness in identifying and treating human trafficking victims.
Design: This study was completed as an evidence-based project as part of a nurse residency program.
Setting: Data was collected among emergency department personnel in two suburban hospitals located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Participants/Subjects: Seventy-five emergency department employees participated in the survey and education. Staff completing the education included nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners/physician assistants, registration, and emergency room technicians.
Methods: This project examined the efficacy of an innovative, evidence-based online training module (HTEmergency.com) created by the project team. Participants completed a pre-survey to determine learning needs, and a post-survey to determine the effectiveness of the online education. The learning module contained a PowerPoint presentation, identification and treatment guidelines, and two realistic case studies. The PowerPoint presentation contained the definition of human trafficking, general statistics, stages of entrapment, a discussion of at-risk populations, potential red flags to identify victims, screening questions, and typical health implications. The presentation then focused on a general guideline for care, which included a flowchart assessment tool that provided a step-by-step recommendation on treating a potential trafficking victim. The education was tailored for emergency department personnel and could be completed in approximately twenty minutes. Data for the pre- and post-education surveys were collected using a Survey Monkey questionnaire embedded within the created website. The survey included general demographic data including profession, years of experience, and hospital location. The survey also explored whether the sampled healthcare professionals had received human trafficking training in the past and whether participants perceived that they had a comprehensive understanding of human trafficking. Lastly, the survey utilized Likert Scale questions to determine each participant's confidence in identifying and treating possible human trafficking victims.
Results/Outcomes: Results indicated that 89% of participants had not received prior human trafficking training. Less than half of the participants stated they had a comprehensive understanding of human trafficking prior to the intervention with an increase to 93% after education. The training module significantly increased confidence in identification (from an average confidence level of 4/10 to 7/10) and treatment (from an average confidence level of 4/10 to 8/10) of human trafficking victims within the emergency department. 96% found the educational module to be useful in their work setting.
Implications: Participants reported they are more confident in identifying a possible trafficking victim and are more likely to screen individuals for human trafficking after participation in the online training module. The proposed general guideline for care provided emergency department personnel with a useful tool in perpetuity. The results of this project, coupled with the growth of worldwide human trafficking, necessitate the need for a similar intervention in hospitals nationwide.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Human Trafficking, Trafficking, Emergency Department
Recommended Citation
Donahue, Steven; Schwien, Michael; and LaVallee, Danielle, "Educating emergency department staff on human trafficking" (2019). General Submissions: Presenations (Oral and Poster). 116.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/gen_sub_presentations/2018/posters/116
Conference Name
Emergency Nursing 2018
Conference Host
Emergency Nurses Association
Conference Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Conference Year
2018
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Educating emergency department staff on human trafficking
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Session H presented Friday, September 28, 2:30-3:30 pm
Purpose: Provide education to emergency department staff to increase awareness in identifying and treating human trafficking victims.
Design: This study was completed as an evidence-based project as part of a nurse residency program.
Setting: Data was collected among emergency department personnel in two suburban hospitals located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Participants/Subjects: Seventy-five emergency department employees participated in the survey and education. Staff completing the education included nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners/physician assistants, registration, and emergency room technicians.
Methods: This project examined the efficacy of an innovative, evidence-based online training module (HTEmergency.com) created by the project team. Participants completed a pre-survey to determine learning needs, and a post-survey to determine the effectiveness of the online education. The learning module contained a PowerPoint presentation, identification and treatment guidelines, and two realistic case studies. The PowerPoint presentation contained the definition of human trafficking, general statistics, stages of entrapment, a discussion of at-risk populations, potential red flags to identify victims, screening questions, and typical health implications. The presentation then focused on a general guideline for care, which included a flowchart assessment tool that provided a step-by-step recommendation on treating a potential trafficking victim. The education was tailored for emergency department personnel and could be completed in approximately twenty minutes. Data for the pre- and post-education surveys were collected using a Survey Monkey questionnaire embedded within the created website. The survey included general demographic data including profession, years of experience, and hospital location. The survey also explored whether the sampled healthcare professionals had received human trafficking training in the past and whether participants perceived that they had a comprehensive understanding of human trafficking. Lastly, the survey utilized Likert Scale questions to determine each participant's confidence in identifying and treating possible human trafficking victims.
Results/Outcomes: Results indicated that 89% of participants had not received prior human trafficking training. Less than half of the participants stated they had a comprehensive understanding of human trafficking prior to the intervention with an increase to 93% after education. The training module significantly increased confidence in identification (from an average confidence level of 4/10 to 7/10) and treatment (from an average confidence level of 4/10 to 8/10) of human trafficking victims within the emergency department. 96% found the educational module to be useful in their work setting.
Implications: Participants reported they are more confident in identifying a possible trafficking victim and are more likely to screen individuals for human trafficking after participation in the online training module. The proposed general guideline for care provided emergency department personnel with a useful tool in perpetuity. The results of this project, coupled with the growth of worldwide human trafficking, necessitate the need for a similar intervention in hospitals nationwide.